LOCAL police are alarmed at the number of people caught drink driving during a two-day blitz across the Tamworth and Gunnedah areas.
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Nineteen people were intercepted over the limit on Friday and Saturday night in the high-visibility police operation, and more than 50 others were fined for other offences.
Operation Chrome saw highway patrol and general duties police from Gunnedah and Tamworth hit the streets across the Oxley Police District, patrolling main and back roads after dark.
Officers conducted just shy of 600 random breath tests, with 12 people detected drink driving on Friday night and another seven on Saturday night.
Oxley Acting Inspector Jacob Cantwell told The Leader the numbers were alarming.
“Police are very concerned at the number of PCAs in the area,” he said.
“These are people detected driving above the legal limit and putting themselves and other motorists at risk.”
These are people detected driving above the legal limit and putting themselves and other motorists at risk.
- Oxley Acting Inspector Jacob Cantwell
Police issued 64 infringements, including 16 tickets for speeding, and seven other motorists were given 24-hour flash bans from driving after testing positive to prohibited drugs during roadside tests.
In one case, police said one male driver was allegedly speeding along Moore Creek Road near Windmill Hill in North Tamworth when he caught the eye of police.
Officers stopped the man about 1.35am on Sunday before he allegedly recorded a blood alcohol reading of .151 – three times the legal limit.
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His licence was suspended and he was charged with high-range PCA to front court at a later date.
Officers said a 60-year-old man was charged with mid-range drink driving after being stopped in Walcha about 8pm.
He allegedly returned a reading of .101 – double the legal limit.
His licence was suspended on the spot ahead of a court appearance at a later date.
Police have warned more blitzes will be rolled out to stamp out illegal behaviour.
Breanna Chillingworth
Northern Daily Leader Senior Crime and Court Reporter
Northern Daily Leader Senior Crime and Court Reporter
